Blessed Elder '''Porphyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kapsokalyvite''' (1906-1991) was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment. He was born Evangelos in Evia and later tonsured with his monastic name of Nikitas. He became a monk at the age or fourteen of fifteen. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the Holy Mountain, he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the priesthood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital chaplain in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970). His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same cell which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon.

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Blessed Elder '''Porphyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kapsokalyvite''' (1906-1991) was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment.

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== History ==

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He was born [[February 7]] in the little village of St. John Karystia, in the province of Evoia. His parents, Leonidas and Eleni Bairaktaris (daughter of Antonios Lambrou), christened him Evangelos. He was fourth out of five siblings. Only his youngest sister is still alive and is a [[nun]].

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His family was quite poor and so Evangelos left school at an early age to assist his family to make more money. At some stage, he found a job working at a grocer store in Chalkidiki and also in Piraeus. He was taught to pray the [[Paraklesis]] by his father and all other religious matters. At the age

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== Monastic Life ==

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Later [[tonsure]]d with his [[monasticism|monastic]] name of Nikitas. He became a [[monk]] at the age or fourteen of fifteen. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the [[Mount Athos|Holy Mountain]], he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the [[priest]]hood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, [[Archbishop]] of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital [[chaplain]] in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970). His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same [[cell]] which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon.

Through his role as spiritual father, Elder Porphyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published.

Through his role as spiritual father, Elder Porphyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published.

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He has left behind Elder Damaskinos, his disciple from 1969, who reviews much of the published works about the elder. <ref> This blessed elder has visited Australia, and other countries, on many occasions and has informed christians that much of the published work do not accurately reflect the true sayings and true beliefs of the elder - or have missed the true meaning through translations. He is in the process of writing official commentary to the latest "Wounded by Love", in which it is reported that the Elder had said that some trees where over 15,000 million years old. Elder Damaskinos says this has been a mis-understood comment as Elder Porphyrios did not believe Creation to be more than the official number of years set out by the Orthodox Church. </ref>

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== See also ==

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*St. [[Nektarios of Aegina]], ''Elder Prophyrios's father was the village cantor and St. Nektarios used his services whilst he was in that area.''

==Books==

==Books==

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*Constantine Yannitsiotis. ''With Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers.'' The Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior:Athens, 2001.

*Constantine Yannitsiotis. ''With Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers.'' The Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior:Athens, 2001.

Contents

History

He was born February 7 in the little village of St. John Karystia, in the province of Evoia. His parents, Leonidas and Eleni Bairaktaris (daughter of Antonios Lambrou), christened him Evangelos. He was fourth out of five siblings. Only his youngest sister is still alive and is a nun.

His family was quite poor and so Evangelos left school at an early age to assist his family to make more money. At some stage, he found a job working at a grocer store in Chalkidiki and also in Piraeus. He was taught to pray the Paraklesis by his father and all other religious matters. At the age

Monastic Life

Later tonsured with his monastic name of Nikitas. He became a monk at the age or fourteen of fifteen. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the Holy Mountain, he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the priesthood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital chaplain in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970). His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same cell which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon.

Through his role as spiritual father, Elder Porphyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published.

He has left behind Elder Damaskinos, his disciple from 1969, who reviews much of the published works about the elder. [1]

See also

St. Nektarios of Aegina, Elder Prophyrios's father was the village cantor and St. Nektarios used his services whilst he was in that area.

Books

Klitos Joannidis. Elder Porphyrios: Testimonies and Experiences. The Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior: Athens, 1995. 978-9608538258

Constantine Yannitsiotis. With Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers. The Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior:Athens, 2001.

Notes

↑ This blessed elder has visited Australia, and other countries, on many occasions and has informed christians that much of the published work do not accurately reflect the true sayings and true beliefs of the elder - or have missed the true meaning through translations. He is in the process of writing official commentary to the latest "Wounded by Love", in which it is reported that the Elder had said that some trees where over 15,000 million years old. Elder Damaskinos says this has been a mis-understood comment as Elder Porphyrios did not believe Creation to be more than the official number of years set out by the Orthodox Church.